Music and Magic - Salzburg for Children

Most educators and parents agree: travel, especially abroad, can be one of the most important experiences a family can have together. ‘Travel is mind broadening’, as the old saying goes, and nothing else encourages a young person's curiosity, sense of wonder, and thirst for new experiences than travel.

However, travelling with children presents some particular challenges: not only do parents have to come up with exciting and interesting activities for them, they also have to consider things such as keeping a tight schedule (especially with young children who have very specific dietary and sleep cycles), safety, and even baggage (children, albeit smaller than adults, often require more clothes and personal items).

A Perfect Destination for Children

Fortunately, modern travel conveniences have made this task so much simpler and easier – especially if you make your choice of destination carefully. For example, if you’re visiting Austria’s Salzburg, airport transfers (pre-booked) are the best way to reach your hotel, giving you and your children time to recover from your flight while at the same time enjoying your first taste of the Baroque charm of the city. There are no worries about being stranded at the airport with exhausted and cranky children as the Salzburg airport transfers run 24/7.

Salzburg is filled with exciting and interesting sights to see: from the gorgeous Alpine countryside, to the many well-preserved edifices in Altstadt, a UNESCO World Heritage site. When you arrive in Salzburg, airport transfers can in themselves act as mini-tours, as drivers will be happy to point out important and historic locations. In fact you should make a point of asking your driver for recommendations regarding the ‘must-see’ attractions and places to eat - they’ll be able to impart some great 'insider tips'.

What to See and Do

Music lovers know the city is the birthplace of one of the greatest composers of he 18th century, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. However, for children (and adult fans) it is better known as the location of musical, The Sound of Music. Here, Maria and the Von Trapp children romped through the countryside, dancing and singing, with their colourful clothes and shining smiles; and Maria and her Captain found love and the start of their great adventure as they crossed the frozen Alps into Switzerland with only the clothes on their backs and one another. You and your children can join sing-alongs in various places, attend the Sound of Music dinner show in Sternbrau Theatre, tour the various locations from the movie (such as the Von Trapp Mansion and the rotunda where Leisl and Ralph sang their duet), and even bike around the city (including Mirabell Square and, the Horse Pond, St. Peter cemetery, Nonnberg Convent, and Hellbrunn Palace) like Maria and the children did in the movie.

Before you leave, make sure you squeeze in a visit to the Salzburg Zoo. Comprising 14 hectares of land it houses more than 1200 animals belonging to 140 different species, including monkeys, leopards, hippos, lynxes, and the extremely rare Eurasian griffon, among others. Smaller children can also enjoy the petting zoo. In the autumn, the zoo is open until 9:30 pm so you can take your time and let your family enjoy the animals to the fullest.

From the convenient Salzburg airport transfers to the many child-friendly attractions and activities, this is a city sure to delight every member of the family.

Lukas Johannes is a driver for Shuttle Direct. If you’re looking for Salzburg airport transfers, Shuttle Direct provide pre-booked shuttles to major destinations all over Europe. Wherever you travel, Shuttle Direct can make sure that you don’t miss your car on your holiday abroad.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.